Not now. You have things to do. Lighting. Hooks. Bakery. Focus.
The bell over the front door jingled.
At the foot of the step stool, Aileen glanced toward the door and her eyes sparkled. “Well hello there, Noah.”
Aw fuck.
“Hi.”
Eli would have known that voice anywhere.
Aileen’s grin spread like butter melting over warm toast. “Are you here for something delicious and edible?” Her gaze flickered up to Eli, and he glared, then waited for the longest three seconds of his life before turning to look.
Noah stood inside the door, his cheeks flushed pink from the cold. He was wearing a teal beanie, a navy jacket, and the same carpenter-meets-holiday-elf vibe he’d had earlier. His eyes found Eli immediately.
He froze.
Blushed.
Smiled.
Dammit.
“Hi.” Eli caught the step stool with one hand before he fell off it.
“Hey.” Noah gestured to the counter. “I came for?—”
“Let me guess,” Eli interjected. “Croissants.”
Noah smiled. “What can I say? You made being paid in croissants sound really good.”
“Croissants. Totally plausible,” Aileen whispered, loud enough for exactly two people to hear. The last customers left the shop, and suddenly it was just the four of them, until Sam headed back into the kitchen.
Noah’s ears turned pink.
Eli descended the step stool and crossed his arms. “Seen any more exes around today?”
Noah groaned. “I deserved that.”
“Yes,” Eli said. “You did.”
“But to be fair,” Noah said, rubbing the back of his neck, “you really did save me from a crisis.”
“A crisis…” Aileen echoed. “In Home Depot. Terrifying.”
Noah laughed, his eyes crinkling. “Wreath selection is a delicate art. I panicked.”
“You panicked at a wreath and grabbed a stranger.” Eli gave a shrug. “That seems totally logical. Even if we were in the lighting section at the time and there wasn’t a wreath in sight.”
“It worked.” Noah’s eyes gleamed. “Didn’t it?”
Eli opened his mouth, then closed it, because yes, it had worked.
Too well.
He cleared his throat. “Do you two know each other?”
Aileen grinned. “We were in the same year at Mapleford High. Same class, actually.” She bit her lip. “Not that we’ve spoken all that much since then, beyond Noah coming in to feed his croissant habit.” She flashed Noah a smile. “I’m Eli’s older sister. I also double as keeper of all family gossip.”
